The County Lines

Sat., Jan. 8, 2000

WASHINGTON

Adams County Ritzville

County commissioners have extended their hiring freeze through 2000. Department heads have asked to fill vacant positions, but have been told the hiring halt is for vacant as well as new positions. The sheriff and county engineer have open positions they cannot fill due to the freeze.

Ferry County Republic

The Sheriff’s Department, with the help of local businesses, is giving away 18 child car seats in January to needy families. Donations came from Anderson’s Grocery, Big Gib’s Food, Republic Building and Hardware, Republic Chevron, Republic Drugs, Hometown Pizza and Radio Shack.

Grant County

Nearly 40 people spent their New Year’s morning braving chilly waters in the eighth annual Polar Bear Dip. Participants raised money, food and supplies for the local animal shelter. The shelter is home to 15 cats and 30 dogs at any given time.

Lincoln County Davenport

Authorities suspect the theft of a 5,000-watt generator from Davenport Building Supply last week was Y2K-motivated. A $1,000 reward is being offered for information leading to an arrest. The perpetrators gained entry to the store by throwing a brick through the glass doors. Only the generator was taken.

Pend Oreille County Newport

The Sullivan Lake and Pend Oreille ranger districts are taking public comment through Jan. 29 on treatment of bark beetle-infected acreage. To comment, call (509) 466-7500. The proposed treatment area covers about 6,420 acres in Sullivan Creek, Harvey Creek, Maitlin Creek, Big Muddy Creek and the Pend Oreille River drainage areas.

Spokane County Spokane

The Institute for Neighborhood Leadership is offering a series of free neighborhood leadership classes at several locations. Group Facilitation will be offered Tuesday at the Northeast Community Center. Neighborhood Organizing will be offered Jan. 20 at the West Central Community Center. All classes run from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. For more information or to register, call the institute at 326-9540.

Stevens County Colville

Andrew William Buckley was the first baby of the millennium at Mt. Carmel Hospital in Colville. He was born at 8:40 p.m. Jan. 1 to Janelle and Brad Buckley of Colville. Andrew weighed in at 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and measured 21-1/2 inches.

Whitman County Pullman

WSU’s Compton Union Gallery reopens for the spring semester Monday. The featured exhibition is “scraps,” recent constructions by Phuong Nyguyen of the WSU Fine Arts faculty. Nyguyen gives new life to discarded materials, recycling them into everyday devices such as radios, phones and bicycles. A WSU faculty member since 1997, Nyguyen paints and creates threedimensional works. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

IDAHO

Benewah County St. Maries

Chuck Compton, a St. Maries High School senior, recently was awarded a certificate of achievement from the American Motorcycle Association. Compton was ranked eighth in the nation after competing in the 1999 National Enduro Series. Compton began racing in 1995.

Bonner County Sandpoint

Christmas trees will be accepted through Jan. 31 at these attended Bonner County Solid Waste sites: Colburn, Idaho Hill, Dickensheet, Upland and Dufort. The sites close at 5 p.m. For more information call the office at (208) 265-1459.

Boundary County Bonners Ferry

Bonners Ferry resident Lowell Simonsen is the featured artist at Art Works Gallery in Sandpoint for January. Three years ago he received wood turning tools as an anniversary present. He said he learned to bring wood to a stable humidity so it wouldn’t crack, and uses its shape, grain and burls to bring it to its full potential.

Kootenai County Spirit Lake

Ricky Allen Fisher, 19, was booked Saturday on charges of felony injury to a child, misdemeanor injury to a child and felonious administering of drugs. According to police, Fisher was baby-sitting his 8-year-old sister and 1-year-old brother. A 12-year-old neighbor girl heard Fisher was going to get drunk and wanted to help baby-sit. Both girls were drinking with Fisher. The 12-yearold’s mother picked her up at 2:30 a.m. Sunday and took her to the hospital when her daughter was unresponsive. The girl had a blood-alcohol content of .23, which is three times the legal limit for adults. She also tested positive for a type of anti-depressant.

Latah County Moscow

The Idaho Fish and Game Department has opened the gates on most secondary roads on the Craig Mountain Wildlife Management area for snowmobiling. The gates normally are opened in November but were kept closed to prevent disturbance of big game animals migrating to lower elevations. Travel by vehicles other than snowmobiles is still prohibited.

Shoshone County Kellogg

The Kellogg, Mullan and Wallace libraries have been declared eligible for grants from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation is expected to give between $2 million and $3 million for Idaho public libraries. The grants will provide the latest computers, software, training and technical support through the Idaho State Partnership Program, said Ann Joslin of the Idaho State Libraries.

MONTANA

Lincoln County Libby

Adult Basic Education classes at the Lincoln County Campus will begin at 9 a.m. Tuesday. New and continuing students may register then. New students will need to take the Test of Adult Basic Education before starting the class. The test is given every other Tuesday, and appointments are needed. Call (406) 293-6282 to set an appointment. The classes are free and open to the public. For more information, call (406) 293-2721.

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